Google, Meta and TikTok Sue California Over Children’s Social Media Law
Google, Meta and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits against California seeking to block a new law that restricts social media features considered addictive for children under 16. The companies argue that the legislation violates constitutional free-speech protections and interferes with parents’ authority to decide how their children use online platforms. The legal challenges target Assembly […]
Major tech companies, Google, Meta and TikTok, have challenged a new California law aimed at curbing addictive social media features for children under 16. The lawsuit, filed on November 4, argues that the legislation, known as Assembly Bill 1709 (AB 1709), infringes upon their constitutional free-speech rights and interferes with parental authority over their children's online usage.
The law, set to take effect on January 1, 2027, prohibits platforms from offering features that could encourage compulsive use, such as autoplay and personalized content feeds. Companies contend that these restrictions violate their First Amendment rights and could undermine their systems for providing age-appropriate content. They also argue that the law conflicts with Section 230 of the federal Communications Decency Act, which generally shields online platforms from liability for third-party content.
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